Test of Faith

Like the typical African home, she took upon her the burden of her family whenever her parents weren't around. Lara stemed as the first child in a family of 8. She catered for the needs of her siblings, ensured the house was always in order and above all instilled in her siblings moral ethical codes of conducts sponsored by the way of the Lord. Needless to state that her leadership skill improved as the improvements of her younger ones had become one of her top goals.

It was few months to celebration but tragedy came calling. She had just rounded off her final year examinations in the University of Lagos when death wore her most familiar faces. They dropped dead in a plane crash. The news felt unreal. I spoke with them last night, how can they be dead?", she questioned her relatives who broke the news. Maybe, it's someone else that died; it can't be papi and mama",  those were the thoughts that ran through her head when the call ended. Her feelings went numb, no sorrow , no joy, no tears, no laughter, just numb.

It was a tough news, it refused to sink and so she journeyed home. She saw her soft spots surrounded by sympathizers, all dressed in black as they wept profusely. A sudden grip of fear overwhelmed her and surrendered her to the floor. She wailed bitterly in wonder of how life would be without both her parents. Life is unfair! "Is there truly God and why will he kill them if he exists". “Why not me”, she pondered. Tears dropped down her cheeks, seeing her 7 younger siblings propelled more effortless tears.

 " Our fees, our clothings, meals, who will provide? ”, she lamented. That period was "hell" for her and her siblings, especially her. She had to use some of her previous savings to run the family and became the bread winner at a very little age. 4 out of 7 siblings she had suspended their education because money wasn't sufficient for them. 

She sought his face for help, she cried to Him to change their story, she kept hearing him state "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end", (Jeremiah 29:11). “How Lord, which plans do you have? That my life and that of my siblings should gradually come to an end? No, tell me". She let go of everything that was on her mind and she conversed with her father. It was an intense conversation with him.  She had gone insane, some would say, but she was perfectly fine. 

The passage, "The effectual fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much" (James 5:16b) became true for Lara. Help came from people she did not expect. Her siblings got back into school, the family had financial breakthrough and everything became better compared to how things were while her parents were alive. 

As Christians, there will always come a time when our commitment and faith would be tested. We could lose friends, family members, jobs, wealth like the case of Job. We ought to learn how to stay connected to God no matter the circumstance. We are lions not chickens that can be easily blown away by the challenges of this world. Nothing should make us denounce our faith or even look for help outside God's ways.

 If God has said he will never leave us nor forsake us then he can never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). He can never lie and he can never do bad and so the harm the devil or man has caused should never make us question the existence of God. God is always looking for Christians who would remain in the faith despite the test of time. Are you one of them?